My current lace project is complex and difficult and doesn’t follow a lot of standard lace designs. I debated whether or not to “lifeline” this project.

To Lifeline or Not to Lifeline

There are five charts that make up the design of this shawl. The first one is rather simple and easy to knit. It misled me into thinking this project would be a breeze.

Then I hit the second chart. It includes lengthy, non-repeating sequences of stitches and yarn overs that required MUCH more attention than I expected. I kept messing up the first few rows on the second chart. I started to fudge a couple of sections to make the stitch counts work. Finally after I had fudged the stitches for about the fourth or fifth time, I ripped out the entire project (as noted in Monday’s blog entry).

I quickly re-worked the first chart and then carefully (with LOTS of attention) made my way past the troublesome section of the second chart. I didn’t want to have to rip back, so in inserted some cotton waste yarn into the stitches on the most troublesome row.

The pattern continued to be complex. So I only worked on it when I could give it the attention it required. I still made mistakes and had to tink back and make fixes. That safety-net red yarn was put in on about row 38 of the pattern. As I got up to row 50, I kept assuring myself that I didn’t need to move it up…that I could fix my mistakes when I made them.

Then it occurred to me that something catastrophic (well, as catastrophic as can be with a knitting project) could occur. For instance, I might accidentally pull out the entire needle and lose all my stitches. After I made it to the end of the third chart, I realized I did not want to have to re-knit that section of the shawl. So I have move the lifeline up to row 80…just in case.

Current Knitting

I only got a few rows added to the helical striped sock, so I don’t have a progress photo today (sorry B.J.). But I have made a lot of progress on the Under the Harvest Moon lace shawl KAL.

This is up to row 80 (out of 113). Chart 4 (out of 5) is much easier now that I have the stitch markers established. It’s a much shorter repeat and easier to keep track of. I’ve taken a sneak peak at chart 5 and it also seems to be a nice short repeat.

Knock wood – Hopefully I won’t need to rely on the safety of the red cotton yarn.